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Duration of Stay in Hospital for Normal Maternity Care

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Pregnancy Dos and Don'ts page 1 H e a lt H y P r e g n a n c y U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health women s h e a lt h . gov http://www.womenshealth.gov 1-800-994-9662 TDD: 1-888-220-5446 Do’s and Don’ts Print-and-Go Guide Eat this. Don’t eat that. Do this. Don’t do that. Pregnant women are bombarded with Do’s and Don’ts. It’s tough to keep it all straight. Pregnancy Do’s are listed below. The next page has a list of pregnancy Don’ts. Pregnancy Do’s • See your doctor regularly. Prenatal care can help keep you and your baby healthy and spot problems if they occur. • Continue taking folic acid throughout your pregnancy. All women capable of pregnancy should get 400 to 800 micrograms (400 to 800 mcg or 0.4 to 0.8 mg) of folic acid every day. Getting enough folic acid lowers the risk of some birth defects. Taking a vitamin with folic acid will help you to be sure you are getting enough. • Eat a variety of healthy foods. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium- rich foods, lean meats, and a variety of cooked seafood. • Get all essential nutrients, including iron, every day. Getting enough iron prevents anemia, which is linked to preterm birth and low-birth weight babies. Ask your doctor about taking a daily prenatal vitamin or iron supplement. • Drink extra f luids, especially water. • Get moving! Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, physical activity is good for you and your baby. • Gain a healthy amount of weight. Gaining more than the recommended amount during pregnancy increases a woman’s risk for pregnancy complications. It also makes it harder to lose the extra pounds after childbirth. Check with your doctor to find out how much weight you should gain during pregnancy. • Wash hands, especially after handling raw meat or using the bathroom. • Get enough sleep. Aim for 7 to 9 hours every night. Resting on your left side helps blood f low to you and your baby and prev

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